The Canadian Football League has partially lifted the lid on what for so long was a cone of silence.

What had been spoken about in whispers — each team’s 45-man “neg list” giving them exclusive CFL negotiation rights to college and junior football players) — entered the public domain on Wednesday, when the league shared lists of 10 players for each club. Ten more are to follow in December.

It’s part of a plan by commissioner Randy Ambrosie to bring more transparency to the league.

“It was all part of a broader conversation at the league meetings in January,” Ambrosie said. “We can no longer afford to operate in a vacuum. There’s a big world out there. We have to be in the news. The idea of an off-season where we go quiet is not appropriate anymore. We’re going to be, to the best of our ability, the most fan-centric league in the world. The best part of this (is that) fans will be talking about who is on the neg lists. That’s super exciting for me.”

Remember, many of these guys will never play in the CFL. Some could go on to be stars in the National Football League. Fans of U.S. college football will know several of the names.

Big names? How about former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose CFL rights are held by the Montreal Alouettes, plus a couple of Heisman Trophy winners?

The Edmonton Eskimos have the rights to Minnesota State receiver Shane Zylstra, brother of Brandon Zylstra, a former Eskimos star.

The Calgary Stampeders have the rights to Tommylee Lewis, a kick returner in New Orleans.

The Toronto Argos have the rights to Tulane linebacker Nico Marley, son of former Ottawa Rough Rider Rohan Marley and grandson of Bob Marley and QBs Denard Robinson of Michigan (converted to running back by Jacksonville of the NFL), 2017 Heisman winner Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma and Aaron Murray of Georgia.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have former NFL QB Robert Griffin III and U.S. college national championship game hero Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama on their list.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have Philadelphia Eagles tight end Adam Zaruba, also a Canadian rugby player, of Simon Fraser.

The Ottawa Redblacks have wide receiver Greg Little, a second-round draft pick of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns on their list.

On Winnipeg’s list is South Florida QB Quinton Flowers.

“I think what’s going to help the profile is we aren’t just talking about any old NCAA players,” Ambrosie said. “We’re talking about the best of the best. There may be 10 players on the best of teams that are good enough to play professional football. Some of those players have a physical profile that is perfectly suited for the NFL. Some of those players are just as gifted in terms of their athleticism, but their physical profile is more suited to the CFL. Among those players, there may be two or three who are in both; their physical profile could go either way. Regardless, what we’re talking about is the cream of the crop.”

Not everybody in CFL circles wanted to release neg list names. They’d prefer that the players on the neg lists don’t know about it. If a player on the list says he wants to come to the CFL, the team must offer a contract within 10 days, which in turn would allow them to continue to hold his rights for a year. A team with a full roster may not want to make an immediate move once a player triggers the 10-day period.

“There are lots of different views on why the neg list is good or bad,” Ambrosie said. “The concern is they have to protect the efforts they make on scouting, and the neg list accomplishes that. They’re not obstinate, they’re not trying to block anything. They’re willing to be open-minded and look for a better approach.

“One of the things we could do was improve our transparency, and this was a really positive step in that direction. We’re starting with 10 names. We said we’d open this up for renewed conversation. I don’t think for a moment this conversation on the neg list is completed. What I think we can promise is there’s more discussion to come.”

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield takes a break during the North team practice for the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 24.Butch Dill /
AP

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